Since Christmas I have become addicted to this whole coffee thing. I know my weak point is now my grinder. With out breaking the bank what do you all suggest as a good, take care of my needs for the long hale grinder. I have heard many speak of the Rocky. Any other suggestions? Thanks once again for the help. ------------------------------ Alex Fitch Alex Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
If I were in the market (I love my Mazzer Major), I would save up for a Cimbali Max Hybrid. The cost is $795.00. More than a Rocky or a Mazzer Mini, but it will be the last grinder you will need to buy. Les On 5/7/08, Alex Fitch wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Funny I was told that about my Rocky and then again about my Mazzer Mini. There is no end in sight. Alex if you are not heavily into Espresso the Rocky is fine. If you make mostly Espresso the Mini will meet your need well. If you have a lot of cash and want the best look further. On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 7:15 AM, Les wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Alex, If you don't mind used...my recommendation would be to troll around on eBay and Craigslist for a used Mazzer or similar commerical grinder (provided you have the counter space of course). They can often be had for less than the price of a new Rocky, even factoring in new burrs. There are a few list members that have also gotten truly amazing deals on commerical grinders at thrift stores, but this seems to take some special talent that I do not posses. :) I have a search on Craigslist for coffee and espresso related stuff in my local area that dumps to an RSS feed. I sometimes see commercial grinders in the NY area for $150-250 (seems to be mostly Rossi's). If you see something, but aren't sure, don't be afraid to ask the list before you buy. --mike On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 7:53 PM, Alex Fitch wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
I'll go so far as to say even if you are "heavily into Espresso" a Rocky can serve you 'fairly' well. You'll need to pay good attention to your PF build distribution and though grind adjustment stepped 'can' be used quite well. Personally I'd either go Rocky or jump way up to Cimbali Max Hybrid as Les suggests by-passing Mazzer Mini. Used Mazzer Super Jolly or Major can still occasionally be had for a decent price and would be a better option than a Rocky if not much more $ (always include new set of burrs in initial cost of ownership consideration). Once upon a time used Mazzer Super Jolly's were fairly plentiful but tougher to get a good deal these days, but if persistent still be possible. Truth be told I'm STILL using Rocky at home and some might say I'm "heavily into Espresso":-) Can't fine tune shots nearly as well as the Mazzers at the Kafe but Rocky quite capable of very good to superb shots. Actually have bought a used SJ TWICE targeted for home but just too big for the kitchen space so have stayed with Rocky. (Sold the first one 2 or so years ago, then later bought another one, now at the Kafe as SO 'spro grinder soon to be replaced by a Major.) Am strongly looking at Cimbali Max Hybrid for home when/if finances allow. But not high on priorty list right now, much more pressing concerns Roastery Kafe wise first. Pacific Northwest Gathering VIhttp://www.mcKonaKoffee.comURL to Rosto mods, FrankenFormer, some recipes etc:http://www.mckoffee.com/Ultimately the quest for Koffee Nirvana is a solitary path. To know I must">http://home.comcast.net/~mckona/PNWGVI.htmKona Konnaisseur miKe mcKoffeehttp://www.mcKonaKoffee.comURL to Rosto mods, FrankenFormer, some recipes etc:http://www.mckoffee.com/Ultimately the quest for Koffee Nirvana is a solitary path. To know I must first not know. And in knowing know I know not. Each Personal enlightenment found exploring the many divergent foot steps of Those who have gone before. Sweet Maria's List - Searchable Archiveshttp://themeyers.org/HomeRoast/ <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Alex. If espresso isn't part of your coffee regimen, consider the = Baratza Virtuoso (about $200.00). It does a fairly good job for my = cartoon espresso machine, but I understand it's not the best machine. = That said, I love mine. John Alex Fitch wrote: <Snip> <Snip> <Snip> <Snip> ee.com = <Snip> <Snip> -- = John A C Despres Hug your kids 616.437.9182 Scene It All Productions JD’s Coffee Provoked Ramblings = Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee=.com Homeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/=gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7820 |
For what brew method(s) will you be using it (she said, refusing to end a sentence a preposition with)? For espresso (and I can say this, having used a Solis Maestro Plus, a Rocky and a Mazzer Mini for that), a Rocky is perfectly fine and will give you some very good shots. The Maetro Plus was adequate for a beginner--and for drip/ press/aeropress duty is currently doing a fine job chez moi. For most espresso duties, I load a half-lb. at a time into my Mazzer Mini and couldn't be happier with the results. (Rocky does decaf espresso and single-origin espresso and brew duty right now, but for everyday espresso the MM is wonderfully consistent and easy to tweak for bean variety, freshness, and indoor humidity). Rocky has a shorter "travel" of the hopper which must be turned to adjust grind--but unless you have large hands and/or long fingers, that can be tricky--the motor must be running and the burrs devoid of beans to adjust the grind (especially finer), but unlike other grinders you must keep a spring- loaded rocker switch depressed to run the motor and another switch depressed to move the hopper to adjust the burrs; and unless you keep a firm grip on the rim of the hopper, it will spin wildly towards the ultra-coarse end of things. The Mazzer Mini is stepless (facilitating an infinite degree of grind size), has an on/off switch that needn't be held down, and a wand sticking out of the burr collar that makes it easy to move the burrs a few degrees one way or the other. But that latter advantage for espresso is a disadvantage for other methods, especially if you are using it for espresso as your only grinder: you have to move the collar pretty far--against quite a bit of resistance-- to adjust between espresso and coarser grinds; and as the adjustment is stepless you probably won't be able to easily move back to your desired grind without wasting a few beans to test fineness. IMHO, for anything other than espresso the MM is overkill (some say the same of the Rocky). A friend who just does drip recently gave away his old Krups burr mill and bought a Baratza Virtuoso, and is deliriously happy with it--it's a good $100 cheaper than the Rocky and $200-300 cheaper than the MM. Sandy Andina www.myspace.com/sandyandina On May 7, 2008, at 6:53 PM, Alex Fitch wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
If starting from scratch.I would go right to the Mazzer Mini. It's not that much more expensive than the Rocky and is less demanding of the users skill level. However, If I had a Rocky and wanted to upgrade I wouldn't upgrade to a Mazzer but would go to the Cimbali. On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 8:10 AM, miKe mcKoffee wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
After reading the posts so far I guess I should have given more info. But thank you for the info. Here is the line up a SB (afraid to spell their name out here) Barista espresso machine (4 years old) that was slated to be replaced until SM entered my life, a Maestro plus (also about 4 years old and new burrs to be order soon) The Maestro works fine for the ,drip, FP, AP, Vac pot. Currently I have at least two helping of coffee a day when at work (24 hour shifts so the AP is critical and a cheap blade grinder) At home I have 2-4 depending on the day, so may greens to roast and try! and finally 1-2 espresso a day (my wife helps here). I still want to get a new espresso machine but have learned from listening to you all the grinder comes first. So the machine is on hold and now looking into grinders. The I have somewhat limited counter space, but not a small area. Money is only an issue in that more I spend on a grinder the longer I have to wait to replenish the coffee fund for the next SM order, but a 1k grinder might not go over with the wife to well. So I will keep an eye out for used grinders, save my penny's, and once again continue to digest the almost overwhelming amount of information I get here (but keep it coming). Todays cup is Ethiopia Golocha roasted 5 days ago. Having trouble with the flavors on this one. Still trying to develop the taste buds. Thanks again all! ------------------------------ Alex Fitch Alex On May 8, 2008, at 2:38 PM, Sandy Andina wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
<Snip> Is the Cimbali your talking about this: "La Cimbali Junior MAX Hybrid Grinder" for $795 (MSRP $1,000.00)? If so, thats the same price as the Mazzer Mini e Doserless, isn't it? Are you saying the La cimbali is better than the regular mazzer or better than the Mini e? I had been looking at the Mazzer Mini e Mod A thinking that was the one I was going to get. When I saw the Mazzer mini e Mod a in person, I really liked the design with the buttons on the top of pulse, 1 shot or 2 shots, it seems like a really nice machine. But now I am curious to hear what the story is with this La Cimbali... Jamie Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Les and MiKe should be able to answer this. I really have no hands on experience with the Cimbali On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 11:12 AM, Jamie Dolan wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
"--it's a good $100 cheaper than the Rocky and $200-300 cheaper than..." Save a C-Note on the grinder, and use it past the "Use By" date on the burrs (what's the diff?) By then, you will have obliterated far more than the ostensible savings in flavors lost forever. Cheers, Mabuhay -RayO, aka Opa! Smart Money has left the building. Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |